Cerebral Blood Flow Studies in Cerebrovascular Disease

DURING the past 20 years considerable information has accumulated on the changes in cerebral blood flow (CBF) and metabolism that occur with cerebrovascular disease. This work has largely been accomplished by the application of the Kety-Schmidt nitrous oxide method and its modifications for the measurement of CBF. Recently new methods have been used to study total and regional CBF. The purpose of this article is to review the data obtained on cerebrovascular disease by various methods of CBF measurement. These data will be correlated with other factors such as aging, hypertension, the clinical course, arteriography, treatment, and pathological findings. A general review of CBF studies has been given by Lassen,1and the effects of drugs on the cerebral circulation by Sokoloff.2Current concepts of the pathophysiology of cerebrovascular disease have been reviewed by McHenry,3Denny-Brown,4Wells,5and Fields.6Recent advances in the methods of CBF measurement have been summarized